Sergt. Royal Fusiliers. Fought but did not die in WW1.
Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: James Henry Bradley was born on 18 March 1881 in Peckham. He was the second of the six children of James Bradley and Eliza Bradley née Irish. His father was a Leather Cutter. The 1881 census shows him living with his parents, his elder brother James Charles Bradley (1878-1957) and his maternal aunt Mary A. Irish at 28 Rignold Road, Camberwell. Also in the house were his paternal uncle Francis J. Bradley who was married to Susan Bradley and their three children Francis G. Bradley, Alfred E. Bradley and Susan E. Bradley. The 1891 census shows him living with his parents, his elder brother, two younger brothers Charles William Bradley and Henry Bradley together with his younger sister Eva Bradley at 4 Gresham Road, South Norwood.
He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, Service Number L/8204, on 27 August 1900. He was attached to their Mounted Infantry Company and saw service in the Second Boer War in South Africa from 16 March 1901 to 25 March 1902 for which he was subsequently awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with five clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902, Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony. He was with his regiment in Burma from 29 March 1902 until 19 January 1905 when he returned to England. He remained with the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and was promoted to Lance Corporal on 29 June 1906. After 8 years in the regiment he left active service and was transferred to the Army Reserve on 26 August 1908.
On 17 July 1909 he married Mary Ann Caroline Warwick (1881-1960) at St Mary Magdalen Church, Bermondsey. The marriage register gives his occupation as a Warehouseman living at 49 Abbey Buildings and her occupation as a Book-folder. They had four children, John Christopher Bradley (1910-1990) born on 21 April 1910, Nellie Bradley (1912-1988) born on 1 June 1912, James William Bradley (1915-1981) born on 24 February 1915 and Dennis Bradley (1922-1992) born 11 April 1922.
The 1911 census shows him, his family and sister-in-law Alice Warwick living at 2 Prince Arthur Buildings, High Street, Hampstead and listhim as a Chemist's Warehouse Porter.
When Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914 he was mobilised the following day at Hounslow and entered France as part of the British Expeditionary Force on 7 September 1914. His service records show his next of kin as his wife, living at 19 New Buildings, Flask Walk, Hampstead. On 22 September 1917 he transferred as a Lance Corporal from the Royal Fusiliers to the Labour Corps, Service Number 410047. On page 7137 of Supplement No.30750 to The London Gazette of 14 June 1918, dated 17 June 1918, it is shown he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and gave his rank as Lance Corporal, Acting Serjeant. He was demobilised at the end of the war and was also awarded the 1914 Star with the 5 Aug-22 Nov 1914 clasp and roses, The British War Medal 1914-1918 and The Victory Medal.
Electoral registers following the war until 1937 show the family still living at 19 New Buildings, Flask Walk, but the 1939 England and Wales register show him living at 109 Highfield Avenue, Hendon with his wife, daughter Nellie and two sons James and Dennis Bradley. His occupation was given a Chemist's Porter. His wife died on 18 January 1960 at 109 Highfield Avenue, London, NW11 and probate records show him as a retired warehouseman when he was granted administration of her estate on 10 March 1960. Her effects totalled £587-0s-6d. He died, aged 86 years, on 4 March 1968 and was buried on 7 March 1968 in Grave H.5 in the Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium, Holders Hill Road, London, NW7 1NB. Probate records inform that administration was granted on 24 May 1968 and his estate totalled £1,754.
Andrew wrote: "Confusingly, I have found two different dates of birth for this man. When he was baptised on 5 June 1881 the curate, W. T. P. Winter, recorded his birthday as 7 November 1880 in the parish baptismal register. However, the 1939 England and Wales Register shows it to be 18 March 1881. The 1881 census that was taken on the night of the 3 April 1881 showed him as being aged one month, so I have used the date of birth that is recorded on the 1939 England and Wales Register and believe the date recorded by the curate is incorrect (probably down to too much of the communion wine!)"
